Special Message from Northwestern Medicine’s Chief Health Equity Executive
In 2023, Northwestern Medicine (NM) announced the NM2035 strategic plan, a five-pillared directive that calls out relationships with the communities we serve as an integral part of better health care delivery. To understand why this commitment to community is so important, let us consider the meaning of the term ‘health equity’. Within NM, we align with the APHA definition: the principle that everyone has the opportunity to attain their highest level of health. There are many definitions of health equity out there, and while the difference between most of them is a matter of semantics, in the healthcare quality and regulatory environment, the focus is most often heavily weighted on the quality of care received within the healthcare setting. While that is critically important, it is by now a well-known fact that up to 80 percent of the factors affecting an individual’s health are outside of the health care setting, in the community.
As a health care system, we are programmed to look at patient presentations and outcomes to inform how we provide care. We must also pay attention to metrics of quality and resource utilization - such as readmission rates and ED (emergency department) utilization. If the lens with which we view the patient is simply what we see in the healthcare setting, the chances that the patient’s condition (and our metrics) will improve are low. A community focus broadens our view to not only understand the external circumstances of our patients, but to be able to connect them to resources that improve their chances for success once they leave our healthcare setting. Things like access to food, low health literacy and limited access to good primary or specialty care because of rurality or transportation challenges can all be addressed through community relationships and partnerships. Providing a connection to resources for any barrier the patient may be experiencing is what can really make the sustained impact we (and the patient) are looking for.
The commitment to deepening relationships with our community gave birth to the NM Community Health Institute (NM CHI)- which represents the joined efforts of NM’s Community Affairs Function and NM’s Office of Health Equity to create a system-wide approach to health equity (see operating model figure below). The goal of the NM CHI is to center the communities we serve and to be a connector and resource to those of you engaged in this important work across our health system.
Looking ahead, I am optimistic. Improving health for all is a journey that has the potential to be accelerated, deeply impactful, and sustained if all parts are aligned. From harnessing the passion of our students to supporting research and care delivery to streamlining system-wide processes, we all have a part to play. We are better, together!
Chief Health Equity Executive, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare
Associate Professor of Surgery
Comprehensive Transplant Center
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine